CHAPTER 67: CHAPTER 67: STAY AWAY FROM ME!

"Shinian, what’s wrong?" Xiao Chengyu asked when he saw Fu Shinian stop and not move.

Fu Shinian hadn’t noticed when Xiao Chengyu started calling her name directly.

But she quite liked it.

"Nothing," Fu Shinian replied, handing the alcohol-soaked cloth to Xiao Chengyu.

Recently, Xiao Chengyu has been increasingly busy investigating the source of the epidemic.

He leaves early and returns late every day.

Yet his health, Fu Shinian is truly worried about.

So she also wakes up early every day, ensuring he wears more clothes, prepares lunch for him every day, instructs Jing Lai to watch Xiao Chengyu finish his meal, and checks when he comes back.

But Fu Shinian didn’t expect that the thing she was worrying about happened anyway.

On this day, Fu Shinian was at the manor when she suddenly heard a commotion from not far away.

Fu Shinian has been constantly tense lately, afraid that someone in the manor might be infected.

So, as soon as she heard the noise, she quickly covered herself with a mask and hurried toward the direction of the sound.

She saw Xiao Chengyu wrapped tightly in a heavy cloak, instructing the people in the manor, "Nobody should come near me!"

"My Lord!" Jing Lai was almost in tears with anxiety, "You can’t be alone, let me serve you!"

"What’s wrong?" Fu Shinian rushed over, a bad feeling making her body go cold.

She ran toward Xiao Chengyu without stopping.

"Stop!" Xiao Chengyu shouted, quickly retreating.

When Fu Shinian stepped forward, he took a step back, "Don’t come near me!"

Fu Shinian looked at Jing Lai and, with a pale face, asked, "Jing Lai, what’s going on?"

She hoped that she had guessed wrong.

But Jing Lai, trembling, shattered her hope, "My Lord... My Lord was suddenly struck with a high fever while investigating the source of the epidemic outside."

Fu Shinian’s hands clenched tightly into fists, her nails deeply embedded in the flesh of her palms, the pain like a knife stabbed into her forcing her to calm down a bit.

Fu Shinian took a deep breath and gave instructions one by one, "Go call the Imperial Physician, wait in the Lord’s courtyard. Warm up the Lord’s bedroom with charcoal."

"Is the vinegar still burning in the Lord’s room?" Fu Shinian asked again.

"Yes, miss, it’s burning continuously," the maid replied.

"Good, replenish timely."

"Everyone who followed the Lord today should be gathered in the guest room and must not make contact with others," Fu Shinian said, "Instruct the kitchen to brew fever-reducing medicine for the Lord, and additional anti-cold medicine for those who followed the Lord today."

"Those who followed the Lord should not interact with other people in the manor, all go to the guest rooms and do not come out. Meals will be delivered to the door, once the person leaves, open the door to retrieve your meals."

Seeing Fu Shinian’s clear and organized arrangements, Jing Lai’s panic diminished significantly, no longer feeling so helpless.

"Jing Lai, you were closest to the Lord, go wait in the guest room, check your health to ensure you haven’t been infected before coming out," Fu Shinian said, "Manage those waiting in the guest room, lead them there together."

"Yes," Jing Lai nodded, understanding the priorities, not arguing, but still worried about Xiao Chengyu, "Second Miss, what about the Lord...?"

"I’ll be with him, don’t worry," Fu Shinian said, "Go ahead."

Jing Lai quickly gathered those who were by Xiao Chengyu’s side today and took them to the guest rooms.

Fu Shinian had long arranged several isolated guest rooms in the manor.

She knew it was impossible for the manor to remain safe without incident, someone would eventually get infected.

These empty rooms were therefore used for isolation.

After giving these orders, Fu Shinian approached Xiao Chengyu.

Sure enough, Xiao Chengyu wanted to retreat.

Previously, Xiao Chengyu was able to evade because Fu Shinian was unprepared.

But now, knowing Xiao Chengyu would try to avoid her, she would not truly let him escape.

Now, Xiao Chengyu’s body was weak and feverish, making his movements slow.

Fu Shinian was prepared, stepped forward.

Xiao Chengyu only managed to take half a step back before Fu Shinian grabbed his arm.

Even though his mouth and nose were covered with a mask, Xiao Chengyu’s nerves were tense, "Shinian!"

He tried to shake off Fu Shinian, "Stay away from me!"

But Fu Shinian was relentless.

She held tightly onto Xiao Chengyu’s arm, instead of letting go, she stepped closer.

Her body pressed closely against Xiao Chengyu, her hands holding his arm in her embrace, "It’s too late, I’ve already had close contact with you."

"You..." Xiao Chengyu was flustered, "You’re being reckless!"

"I am not reckless," Fu Shinian looked up and said, "You’ve sent everyone away, not letting them come near, then who will take care of you?"

Fu Shinian reached out to touch his forehead, it was burning hot.

"My Lord, stop arguing whether I should stay close or not, hurry back to rest," Fu Shinian said, "The urgent task is to cure your illness."

Fu Shinian supported Xiao Chengyu back to his room, the Imperial Physician was already waiting in the courtyard.

The Imperial Physician checked Xiao Chengyu’s pulse, and Fu Shinian noticed the prescription given was different from the one given to the people outside, so she asked, "Sir, this prescription is different from the one outside, is there a reason?"

"The Lord’s body is somewhat weaker than average," the Imperial Physician said, "I’m worried strong medicine might harm him."

"The people outside labor year-round, so their bodies are actually stronger than those of the nobles here in the capital, which allows for strong medication."

Fu Shinian lowered her eyes and thought, "If this prescription’s potency is small, does that mean its control over the disease is also lesser? If it can’t suppress the illness decisively, wouldn’t it be more dangerous once the illness erupts?"

"This..." The Imperial Physician hesitated, then nodded, "That is indeed the case."

"Then administer strong medicine," Fu Shinian said, "Sir, do not treat the Lord as a weak body, consider him as a regular person."

Fu Shinian was taking a gamble, betting that Xiao Chengyu’s current fortune value would allow his body to withstand both the illness and the medication.

"This... this is too dangerous," the Imperial Physician shook his head.

Fu Shinian said, "With the prescription you just modified, I worry the Lord won’t last until recovery..."

"If that’s the case, then let’s take the gamble," Fu Shinian said, "I believe the Lord can endure it."

The Imperial Physician nodded, though he too had been hesitant.

The prescription he had written was indeed too mild, likely ineffective.

Now with Fu Shinian’s words, the Imperial Physician changed the prescription.

Fu Shinian then instructed Mai Dong to gather everyone in the manor.

"Today, the Lord has also contracted the epidemic, and is currently resting in his room," Fu Shinian said, "Those who were with the Lord earlier have been isolated in the guest rooms awaiting results."

"Currently, the epidemic in Ganning is severe, no one can guarantee they will recover," Fu Shinian said, "This is dangerous for everyone, so I won’t force you to take care of the Lord."

"It’s entirely voluntary; anyone willing to take care of the Lord can step forward," Fu Shinian said, "I assure you won’t be let down."